Now Sweden looks at arms deal with SA

The Mail & Guardian Online notes that the opening of a third international front will increase pressure on the SA authorities to join the investigative offensive. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office has been investigating UK arms company BAE Systems, including its alleged R1bn in ‘commission’ payments made by selling R30bn worth of jets and jet trainers to SA. Beneficiaries include Fana Hlongwane, adviser to former Defence Minister Joe Modise. German prosecutors have been investigating similar payments made by the German Frigate Consortium, which sold four warships to South Africa for about R12bn. Among the allegations is that Chippy Shaik, then procurement head at the Department of Defence, received $3m (R21m now) offshore. A Shaik family spokesperson has denied this. The Swedish Prosecution Authority has now said in a statement it was considering an investigation into the provision of JAS Gripen jet fighters to the Czech Republic and SA. Full Mail & Guardian Online report